What are Ductless Split Systems? What are mini split air conditioners?

Ductless Split Systems do not require duct work like the traditional central systems. In this case you have a condenser (outdoor unit), which is connected to an air handler (indoor unit) which can be installed on a wall (also called wall mounts) or in the ceiling or floor, depending upon your application and requirement.
Like the central air conditioner units, ductless mini split air conditioners have two main components: an outdoor compressor/condenser, and an indoor air-handling unit. A conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain, links the outdoor and indoor units through a small hole (3 inches usually) that is drilled in the wall of the building. The main advantages of ductless mini split air conditioners are their small size and flexibility for zoning or heating and cooling individual rooms. Plus you do not need to spend large amount on money on duct work. Since each of the split air conditioner zones/rooms will have it's own thermostat, you only need to condition that area when someone is present, which saves energy and money. If you are in a office building at a higher floor, you can also install Outside Compressor using our Wall Bracket.

Should I buy Central or Ductless?

Central systems are a little cheaper to buy in comparison to ductless systems, but they are very expensive when it comes to installing duct works around the house. The duct work may or may not require maintenance overtime. Plus with central system you cannot zone the rooms, every room gets same cold air. In case of ductless you can zone the rooms. One room can be on cool mode, while the other room can be on fan mode. One room could be on 75 deg, while other room can remain on 70 deg temperature. While ductless systems are cheaper to install, they allow individual zoning of each room, they purify air in the rooms a bit better than central systems, plus they have lot more advanced technology that you don't find in lot of ducted systems.

Advantages of ductless split air conditioners? Why choose a ductless mini split air conditioner?

=> Whisper quiet operation.
=> Energy efficient, save money on electric bills!
=> Lot cheaper than central air conditioner. No Duct Work required.
=> Easy installation procedure.
=> Long term solution, good for new additions or when replacing existing system.

A mini split air conditioner is a cost effective choice to central air conditioning. However, it is typically more expensive than a wall or window air conditioner and you need a professional to install it. Since the compressor sits outside the split air conditioner is very quiet and efficient. Since mini splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with the ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.
Mini split air conditioners are also sometimes easier to install than other types of air conditioning systems. For example, the hook-up between the outdoor and indoor units generally requires only a three inch hole through a wall for the conduit. Also, most manufacturers of this type of system can provide a variety of lengths of connecting conduits. So, if necessary, you can locate the outdoor unit as far away as 50 feet from the indoor evaporator depending upon which mini split AC you buy. This makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of a building or house with the compressor in a more advantageous or inconspicuous place on the outside of the building.In comparison to other add-on systems, split air conditioners offer more flexibility in interior design options. The indoor air handlers can be suspended from a ceiling, mounted flush into a drop ceiling, or hung on a wall. Floor-standing models are also available with LG. Most indoor units have profiles of about seven inches deep and usually come with sleek, high tech-looking jackets.

Wall types v/s ceiling flush mounts?

Wall type units are lot cheaper than ceiling mount units. Plus in many cases wall mounts can be installed easily on the wall compared to the ceiling mounts that normally have to go between the trusses in the attic. If you do not have the attic you will need to build something around ceiling mounts. Plus you need to buy extra accessories with ceiling mounts compared to wall mounts that comes complete.

What does DC Inverter Mean?

INVERTER technology delivers precise cooling or heating power as per your choice.
It works faster and saves energy while ensuring uniform temperature.
In Depth details:
The inverter tag found on some air conditioners signifies the ability of the unit to continuously regulate its thermal power flow.
Traditional reverse-cycle air-conditioners use a heat pump that is either working at maximum capability or switched off, as the compressor's speed cannot be varied. In order to regulate temperature a thermistor is used to measure the ambient air temperature and switch the compressor on when the ambient air temperature is too far from the desired temperature.
Air-conditioners bearing the inverter tag use a variable-frequency drive to control the speed of the motor and thus the compressor. The variable-frequency drive uses a rectifier to convert the incoming AC current to DC and then uses pulse-width modulation of the DC current within an inverter to produce AC current of a desired frequency. The AC current is used to drive a brushless motor or an induction motor. As the speed of a brushless motor is synchronised to the frequency of the AC current, it is thus possible to build a compressor that can be run at different speeds. Similarly, the voltage and frequency can be varied as needed to efficiently run an induction motor at different speeds. A microcontroller can then sample the current ambient air temperature and adjust the speed of the compressor appropriately.
Eliminating stop-start cycles increases efficiency, extends the life of components, and helps eliminate sharp fluctuations in the load the air-conditioner places on the power supply.

The inverter principle has been applied to a wide range of household appliances including microwave ovens, washing machines, and so on.

What does SEER/HSPF mean?

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) — A measure of seasonal or annual efficiency of a central air conditioner or air conditioning heat pump. It takes into account the variations in temperature that can occur within a season and is the average number of Btu of cooling delivered for every watt-hour of electricity used by the heat pump over a cooling season. Higher the SEER more energy efficient the unit will be.

HSPF is the abbreviation for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor. This factor rates the efficient operation of the heating portion of the heat pump. As the HSPF increases, the unit functions at a more efficient level. New units in the United States have HSPF ratings from 7.0 to 9.4. Heating Seasonal Performance Factor-the total heating output in B.T.U's during it's normal usage period for heating divided by the total electrical energy input in watt hours during the same period.

Will heat pump work in cold temps?
In old days heat pumps would not produce heat below 25 deg outside weather conditions. It is still true only if you buy standard cheaper units. But if you buy the advance DC Inverter units with in-built low ambient feature, you can now have the unit that will work in temps as low as in minus 13 deg.

It depends from brand to brand. Some brands will go down to 10 deg, some go down to zero deg and then Mitsubishi has an “FE” (hyper heat model that goes down to minus 13 deg outside weather conditions. There is also an accessory you can buy that is called a Wind Baffle. It is like a metal cover that screws onto the front of the condenser outside, it keeps the wind chill factor out provides better results if you live in a climate with extreme cold temperatures.

What does low ambient mean?

We sell a lot of advanced units (SEER 15 or higher with inverter technology), that have in-built low ambient feature. Most consumers use their ductless mini split for air conditioning in the summer months. Some consumers need air conditioning year round, even in winter in many cases. In general, air conditioners should not be operated in temperatures below 55°F. But Server rooms, meeting halls, basements, warehouse and restaurants are just a few examples of cases when air conditioning is needed even in winter temperatures.

Anytime air conditioning is needed below 55°F a low ambient kit is required. A low ambient kit is an electrical accessory that can be added to your ductless mini split.
The low ambient kit works by slowing the fan speed to maintain higher head pressure in the condensers compressor and prevent freezing. The fan speed is controlled by the low ambient kit that is connected to the fan motor on the condenser. Many people see the term “low ambient kit” and think that it can be used to continue the operation of their heat pump in the cooler months. This is not true. A low ambient kit is only used to continue creating air conditioning in temperatures below 55°F.

Are ductless units Energy Efficient?
Absolutely. One of the main features why ductless split systems are so popular is because of the fact that they are energy efficient. We have units as high as SEER 27 on single zones and as high as SEER 23 on Multizones. Ductless split air conditioners and heat pump are one of the most energy efficient type of systems that are available in the industry today.

Which Brand is the best?
We receive calls from confused consumers every single day not knowing which brand to buy. With so many different brands out there it does get confusing. Simple way to choose a brand is to start with checking out your requirement first, then browse through our comparison charts and compare the features you would like in your system. Based on all this you can finally narrow it down to three brands. Then investigate which one has best package deal, who has the better warranty and of course if two brands provide similar packages and same warranty then it comes down to who has the better price. PLEASE DO NOT go for system unit that is $100 cheap but has less features or poor SEER rating. It is never worth it. We have had customers who ended up buying SEER 13 product for $100 cheaper, when SEER 16 was available with low ambient operation. But they ended up spending $175 later in winter to buy the backup electric heater, as the standard SEER 13 would not produce heat when the outside temperature goes below 15 deg. In short if you buy a high SEER AC unit, with inverter technology and in-built low ambient feature, you pay more today, but it is your cheaper option in the long run, as you save $20-$60 approximately every month on electrical bills. Plus they work lot better than your regular standard units with lot more advanced features. Remember higher the SEER is more energy efficient the unit is. At the same time if you are buying this for just a guest room or a game room or a spare room where it will be used occassionally, you don't have to overspend on big brands. If price is not a big concern, we rate Mitsubishi, LG, GREE and YMGI units as THE BEST in the industry. YMGI comes with complete package deal. Normally 25 ft of copper linesets for each indoor units you buy.

Do they work as dehumidifiers too?
Yes, if you buy the advanced units (SEER 15 or higher with inverter technology), they normally come with independent dehumidification modes. Standard units will dehumidify as well, but only when AC mode is running. With advanced systems, you can simply put it on dehumidification mode without having to turn air conditioner on.

How to choose the right AC unit?

Lot of times people call us and state they want an air conditioner under $1000 for a house that is 1500 sq ft. This is always the worst way to go about buying an air conditioner. Firstly you need to determine the right size Btu's for your room. Every room is different in many ways. Keys is to buy the right size, which is exmplained in our next article. Once you know your btu's for each room(s) you can choose the split system based on features, SEER and package deals.

What size unit is good for my application? How to choose the right AC?

Keep a pen and paper next to you and write down answers to below questions first. Then move to step 2.

A. First question is how many air handlers (indoor units) would you need?
Answer to this comes from the number of rooms you want to cool or heat. Remember since this is ductless, you will need ONE air handler per room. But if your kitchen, dinning area and living room are all connected and open to each other, in that case you will need just ONE for this entire area. But if your dinning room has walls around it with only a door size opening from the kitchen, in that case you may want to put ONE in kitchen and ONE in dinning room.
B. Are the rooms well insulated? If not we will call it "Situation B"
C. How many windows you have in each room? Are these energy efficient windows? (single pane or double pane windows). If you have 2-3 windows in one room and they are single pane windows that are not energy efficient, we will call it a "Situation C"
D. Then you need to know the height of your ceiling. Is it a regular ceiling or more than 10 ft high? If it has a high ceiling of 15 or 20 ft, we will call it is "Situation D"
E. Do you have any heat generating source in these rooms like sunlight, equipments, computers/server or kitchen etc? If yes, we will call it a "Situation E"

F. Last but not the least you need to know the sq ft of each room.

Once you have the above info, it gets simple then. Below table will help you decide and give you a approx. estimation of what you really need.

Now once you have decided how many units you need, it is time to see what features you want. Low Ambience Feature
For example if you live in New York where the temperature goes below 15 deg quiet a few times in a year and if you need this AC unit to do the heating job as well in the winter time, in that case DO NOT buy the standard SEER 13 without Low Ambience. You need the unit that has Low Ambience operation as they can produce heat in temperature as low as minus 4 deg or zero deg depending upon which unit you end up buying. YMGI/LG/Friedrich/Haier for example have units that produce heat in temperature as low as zero deg

How to figure BTu's v/s Room Size?
Use the previous article for better explanation. Every single city has different weather conditions year around. But if the room is well insulated with normal ceiling without any variables the rule of the thumb is 9000 btu for rooms 100-300 sqft. 12000 btu for rooms 300-500 sq ft. 18000 btu for rooms 500-750 sq ft. 24000 btu for rooms 750-1000 sq ft. 30,000 btu for rooms 1000-1250 sq ft and then finally 36,000 btu for rooms 1250-1500 sq ft. Other variables are to be considered as well, see below chart for example.

What is the best package deal available in the industry?
We have many good deals on our website. But to keep it simple we strongly recommend YMGI products as the best package deal out there in the Industry as of today. For instance all of their products are packaged with 25 ft of lineset kits that includes multizone systems. Other reasons are:

1. YMGI products have HIGH SEER.
2. Inverter technology
3. Low Ambience Operation.
4. They come with complete install kits.
5. They come with 5 year on compressor and 1 year on parts.
6. Usually these are $350 more than what they are priced now. So yes, they are on sale now. If you compare it to any other brands with similar features and quality, this product is unbeatable.
7. They have thier own dehumidification mode.

We have GREE, Aircon, Klimaire, Mitsubishi systems that are sold as package deals as well.

Who has the cheapest system?
Although cheapest is not always the best way to go about buying an air conditioner, out of several different brands we carry, some are cheaper than the other depending upon the sale in that particular month. But we find Aircon, Klimaire and YMGI to have very decent prices for the quality. We do have access to other brands (not listed on our website) for $50 - $100 cheaper than even Aircon for example, but they have known part issues, we do not sell them on our website anymore.

Can I install ductless split unit?

YES and NO. Depends if you are good technically. You may or may not be able to do it. Some people do the handyman work on the indoor and outdoor unit and pay a small amount to an electrician to hard wire the outdoor unit and pay HVAC professional to vaccuum the lines before releasing the refrigerant. Some people choose to do it all by themselves with their past experience. Manufacturer recommends to have it installed by an HVAC professional. Any of your local professional air conditioning company should be able to install it easily for couple of hundred dollars. It is worth spending this money initially, this way you can have it installed professionally and enjoy the benefits of energy efficient mini split AC for year's to come. You may loose your warranty in some cases if you install this unit yourself. Some brands specifically require you to have an invoice from your HVAC installer to provide warranty help. So make sure to read warranty details before making your purchase.

But How easy are the units to install? For Complete Installation Guide, you can click here To ensure an easy installation and fault free operation, we recommend the unit be installed by a professional HVAC installer

Cost of professional installation?
It should normally cost $70-$110 per hour. Depending upon which city you live in and depending upon how many hours they would have to spend at the jobsite, the cost of professional installation could be as little as $300 or as high as $1000. Every job, every application is different. Lot of times people choose to do handyman related work themselves and then they call HVAC professionals to complete the installation. Please refer to the warranty of the product and it is always recommended the unit be installed by HVAC professional.

What is needed to install split unit?

Although every job and installation could different from other, usually you need the following components:

1. Copper Lineset - Always order this with your units. Find out the distance between indoor and outdoor unit and add that much length to your orders. They are sold in 15 ft, 25 ft, 30 ft and 50 ft lengths.

2. Electrical wires - normally 4 stranded 12 gauge to 18 gauge wires can be bought locally.

3. Drain Tube - Normally 5/8" diameter drain tube can be bought locally as well.

4. Condensate Pump (optional) - Only if you are going to drain against the gravity. For example room is in the center of the building and indoor unit is installed on the interior wall. In this case you will need condensate pump.

For Complete Installation Guide, you can click here To ensure an easy installation and fault free operation, we recommend the unit be installed by a professional HVAC installer

How big of a opening do I need?
Indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit through a 3 inch hole in the wall . Through this 3 inch hole you will run the copper lineset, electrical wire and a small drain tube to the outside.

What is power source requirement?
Please note, indoor units get all the power from outdoor unit. Outdoor unit is the only one that is hard wired to the circuit breaker. In short, you do not need any power outlet or anything for the indoor units.
Outdoor unit on the other hand, depending upon the kind of brand and/or unit you buy will need 110V or 220V connected directly to your power panel with disconnect box (recommended). PLEASE READ THE MANUAL FOR ACCURATE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. IF UNSURE CALL TECH SUPPORT PROVIDED WITH YOUR PACKAGE.

How does the indoor unit drain?

1. Using Standard Drain Tube - Normally 5/8" diameter drain tube can be bought locally as well.

2. Condensate Pump (optional) - Only if you are going to drain against the gravity. For example room is in the center of the building and indoor unit is installed on the interior wall. In this case you will need condensate pump.

How to does thermostat work? Example remote control features below.

Where can I Install outdoor unit?
Ideally you would install the outdoor unit on a concrete pad on the ground. But not always this is possible. Outdoor unit can also be installed on the wall outside using a wall bracket or on the roof.

What is a Multizone Split System?
If you need ductless systems for your entire house or multiple rooms, you need to buy multiple air handlers (indoor units). In that case you can connect multiple indoor units to one condenser outside. For example, when you connect two indoor units to one condenser, they are called Dual Zones. When you connect three indoor units to one condenser, they are called Tri Zones. When four indoor units are connected to one condenser, they are called Quad Zones. We do have some 5-8 zone systems as well, but they are very rare and offered by Mitsubishi, YMGI, Fujitsu and Daikin Brands.

Can I do multiple rooms with 1 unit?
Yes. You can buy multiple air handlers with one condenser. Remember if you just buy one air handler with one condenser that air handler can only blow air in the room its installed. The air from that room cannot easily travel to another rooms with doors and walls around, unless you have a great air circulation setup with fans. Unless it is a open floor plan, normally you need to buy multiple air handlers (indoor units) for multiple rooms. In that case you can connect multiple indoor units to one condenser outside.
For example, when you connect two indoor units to one condenser, they are called Dual Zones. When you connect three indoor units to one condenser, they are called Tri Zones.
When four indoor units are connected to one condenser, they are called Quad Zones. We do have some 5-8 zone systems as well, but they are very rare offered by Mitsubishi, YMGI, Fujitsu and Daikin Brands.

Can I mix-n-match indoor units?
Yes, you can. We have brands like Mitsubishi, YMGI, LG, Fujitsu and Daikin that will allow you to mix different type of indoor units to one condenser. For example, you can connect a 36000 btu condenser with one 12000 btu wall mount indoor unit, one 12000 btu ceiling mount indoor
unit and one 12000 btu floor mount indoor unit.

How do ductless split air conditioners work?
Ductless mini splits use a high quality compressor and environmentally friendly green refrigerant to cool your home, and an innovative heat pump technology to keep your interiors warm in cold weather. The near silent operation is made possible by installing the compressor outside your home or offi ce. The air handler (indoor AC unit) in your dwelling is designed for ideal climate control, allowing you to cool or heat or dehumidify your interiors. You can conveniently adjust the fan speed, air flow direction, and oscillating louvers via remote control, or simply set the 24 hour timer for care free operation.

Why buy R410A refrigerant unit?

Is it cheaper to buy refurbished unit?
We at Kingersons do not sell refurbished units. Although refurbished units may be about $100 cheaper than a factory direct brand new item, it is never worth buying a refurbished item. We have seen customers going through a lot of issues on refurbished products where such units work fine for first few months but then experience circuit board failure, which creates a domino effect and leads to one issue after another.

Why buy from KINGERSONS?
10 reasons why you can trust Kingersons.
Helping you with making a right decision is one thing, but best warranty and authentic brand new products at wholesale prices is what we we are known for in the industry.
WE HAVE ALL THAT YOU NEED AND LOT MORE!
1. Many options to compare - We have brands like Friedrich, LG, YMGI, Carrier, Sanyo, Klimaire, Shinco, Haier, etc. This means you have low to high end prices from different brands with several different options to choose from.

2. Good Warranty on all Air Conditioners - Most of our Split air conditioners have 5 years compressor and 3 years on parts.

3. Quality - Quality has always been our number one goal. We do not sell cheap brands with poor quality at cheap prices like some of other wholesalers do. We instead sell quality products at cheap prices instead by eliminating the middle man/agent. Our brands are one of the best in the
industry and have excellent feedbacks and ratings from customers. You can compare the features with any top brands and you will see them all here on our website.

4. LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE - We will not match but beat all the prices that you have from other stores and if we can't, we will give you a product FREE (see details) as long as we are comparing apples to apples.

5. We are listed with Better Business Bureau. SO REST ASSURED THAT YOU ARE BUYING FROM A RELIABLE COMPANY AND NOT SCAMMERS ONLINE. We have been selling air conditioners for decades.

6. GET FREE GIFTS WITH ALL OF OUR AC'S (Check all details on our website) .

7. Excellent after sales tech support provided in case you need help with installation.

8. Need suggestions before purchase? Call us. With experienced staff on hand we can help you make the right decision that can not only effect your heating and cooling but also can help you save money on energy bills.

9. Fast shipping! We usually will ship the product same or next day. Our customers receive the packages normally within 1-5 business days once shipped.

10. New Versions! Advanced features! Complete packages With or without install kits! Find them all here...

What is the warranty on split units?
All of our products come with Manufacturer warranty. None of our products are sold without warranty, unless specified on product detail page. Most brands offer 5 years on compressor and 1 year on parts. While some brands offer 7 year on compressor and 5 years on parts. Please read the product detail page to verify your product warranty.

Do we sell covers to hide the lines?
Yes, we do. It is recommended that you buy this after the installation is complete as things change during installation and you will never know until it’s all done. You can get conduits or something similar to rain gutters to hide the lines from local hardware store like Homedepot or you can buy our line hides here: CLICK HERE

Is there any tax credit on such units?
Yes, usually there is something every year. The most updated information will be available either on your power company’s website or it could be found here at: CLICK HERE

Can I get discount on multiple units?
Absolutely, you can select the product you like and “make an offer” using our online quote system or call us with your list and we will provide discounts accordingly.

How does the warranty work?
Every unit comes with a warranty card and toll free tech support number. Warranty card must be filled out by an HVAC installer and mailed as per instructions to the manufacturer’s corporate office in the US.

Will Kingersons provide installer?
It is better to find someone locally using Yellow Pages or Craigslist for example. You may need to call several listed to find someone at a very decent price but equally qualified. Any local air conditioning company (HVAC company) can install these units. They are very simple to install. Anyone with a HVAC license should be able to do this.

Does Kingersons have local dealer?
Dealers usually have their mark-ups on our systems. Although there are few in every state, they never stock thousands of different air conditioners like we do. They usually will have limited stock. But you can now buy directly from Kingersons. In fact it is better to buy directly from us, so it is guaranteed you are getting brand new unit and not refurbished. We ship all across the nation, for extra shipping cost we even ship to Canada,
Hawaii, Alaska, Bahamas and Cayman Islands. We will ship and deliver it to you door step and obviously all products come with the warranty as well.